Diamond Semiconductor System and Method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a new and improved system and method for fabricating diamond semiconductors. The method may include the steps of selecting a diamond semiconductor material having a surface, exposing the surface to a source gas in an etching chamber, forming a carbide interface contact layer on the surface; and forming a metal layer on the interface layer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 61/578,364 and 61/578,371, both filed Dec. 21, 2012.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This invention is generally related to semiconductor fabrication methods, and more particularly to a method for fabricating diamond semiconductors.

2. Background

Diamond possesses favorable theoretical semiconductor performance characteristics. However, practical diamond based semiconductor device applications remain limited. One issue that has limited the development of practical diamond based semiconductors is the difficulty of fabricating quality n-type layers in diamonds. While attempts have been made to improve n-type diamond fabrication based on limiting the concentration of vacancy created defects, the difficulties associated with fabricating quality n-type layers in diamond has yet to be sufficiently resolved. Deficiencies in known diamond fabrication technology include those related to etching and contact formation. Therefore, there is a need for a new and improved system and method for fabricating diamond semiconductors, including n-type layers within diamond semiconductors.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a new and improved system and method for fabricating diamond semiconductors. In accordance with one aspect of the approach, a method of fabricating diamond semiconductors may include the steps of selecting a diamond semiconductor material having a surface, exposing the surface to a source gas in an etching chamber, forming a carbide interface contact layer on the surface; and forming a metal layer on the interface layer. A diamond semiconductor system may be formed according to the methods described herein wherein the diamond semiconductor material has n-type donor atoms and a diamond lattice, wherein at least 0.16% of the donor atoms contribute conduction electrons with mobility greater than 770 cm²/Vs to the diamond lattice at 100 kPa and 300K.

Other systems, methods, aspects, features, embodiments and advantages of the and method for fabricating diamond semiconductors disclosed herein will be, or will become, apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, aspects, features, embodiments and advantages be included within this description, and be within the scope of the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is to be understood that the drawings are solely for purpose of illustration.

Furthermore, the components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the system disclosed herein. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the method for fabricating diamond semiconductors.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a prior art model of an intrinsic diamond thin film wafer upon which the method of FIG. 1 may be practiced.

FIG. 2B is a prior art model of an intrinsic diamond lattice structure of the diamond of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an exemplary model of a doped diamond thin film wafer such as may be fabricated by practicing the method if FIG. 1 upon the intrinsic diamond thin film wafer of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3B is a model of a doped diamond lattice structure of the doped diamond thin film wafer of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the method for fabricating diamond semiconductors.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are block diagram of a third embodiment of the method for fabricating diamond semiconductors.

FIG. 6 a top view of an exemplary P⁺-i-N diode model that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a model of an exemplary six-pin surface mount device package that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a diode test condition setup, such as may be employed with the diode model of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a graphical illustration of the threshold voltage performance characteristics of a diode that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

FIG. 10 is a graphical illustration of the current-voltage characteristics of a diode that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B in forward bias.

FIG. 11 is a graphical illustration of the current density characteristics of a diode that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B in forward bias.

FIG. 12 is a graphical illustration of the current-voltage characteristics of a diode, that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B in reverse bias.

FIG. 13 is a graphical illustration of the current density characteristics of a diode that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B in reverse bias.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic illustration of an RF attenuator driver for use with a diode that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a process for reactive ion beam etching.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a process for forming Ohmic contacts to diamond material.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a process for reactive forming Schottky contacts to diamond material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description, which references to and incorporates the drawings, describes and illustrates one or more specific embodiments. These embodiments, offered not to limit but only to exemplify and teach, are shown and described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice what is claimed. Thus, for the sake of brevity, the description may omit certain information known to those of skill in the art.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of the method 100 for fabricating layers within diamond material. The method 100 may include a first step 102 of selecting a diamond material having a diamond lattice structure. The diamond material is intrinsic diamond. Intrinsic diamond is diamond that has not been intentionally doped. Doping may introduce impurities for the purpose of giving the diamond material electrical characteristics, such as, but not limited to, n-type characteristics and p-type characteristics. The diamond material may be a single crystal or polycrystalline diamond.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a model of an intrinsic diamond thin film wafer 200. Though not limited to any particular diamond material, in one embodiment, the diamond material of method 100 is the intrinsic diamond thin film wafer 200. The intrinsic diamond thin film wafer 200 may include a diamond layer 202, a silicon dioxide layer (SiO₂) 204, a silicon wafer layer 206. Diamond layer 202 may be, but is not limited to, ultrananocrystalline diamond. The intrinsic diamond thin film wafer 200 may be 100 mm in diameter. The diamond layer 202 may be a 1 μm polycrystalline diamond having a grain size of approximately 200-300 nm. The silicon dioxide layer (SiO₂) 204 may be approximately 1 μm. The silicon wafer layer 206 may be approximately 500 μm Si, such as Aqua 100 available from Advanced Diamond Technologies, Inc. The first step 100 of method 100 may include selecting a variety of diamond base materials such as, but not limited to, the exemplary diamond layer 202 of intrinsic diamond thin film wafer 200.

FIG. 2B is a model of an intrinsic diamond lattice structure 210, such as, but not limited to, an intrinsic diamond lattice structure of diamond layer 202. The intrinsic diamond lattice structure 210 may include a plurality of carbon atoms 212. The intrinsic diamond lattice structure 210 is known to those having skill in the art. In the model, the intrinsic diamond lattice structure 210 is shown defect free and all of the atoms shown are carbon atoms 212.

The second step 104 of method 100 may include introducing a minimal amount of acceptor dopant atoms to the diamond lattice to create ion tracks. The creation of the ion tracks may include creation of a non-critical concentration of vacancies, for example, less than 10²²/cm³ for single crystal bulk volume, and a diminution of the resistive pressure capability of the diamond layer 202. For example, second step 104 may include introducing the acceptor dopant atoms using ion implantation at approximately 293 to 298 degrees Kelvin (K) in a low concentration. The acceptor dopant atoms may be p-type acceptor dopant atoms. The p-type dopant may be, but is not limited to, boron, hydrogen and lithium. The minimal amount of acceptor dopant atoms may be such that carbon dangling bonds will interact with the acceptor dopant atoms, but an acceptor level is not formed in the diamond lattice.

The minimal amount of acceptor dopant atoms of second step 104 may be for example, but is not limited to, approximately 1×10¹⁰/cm³ of boron. In other embodiments, the minimal amount of acceptor dopant atoms of second step 104 may be for example, but is not limited to, approximately 5×10¹⁰/cm³ of boron and a range of 1×10⁸/cm³ to 5×10¹⁰/cm³. Second step 104 may be accomplished by boron co-doping at room temperature in that created vacancies may be mobile, but boron may take interstitial positioning. The second step 104 may create mobile vacancies for subsequent dopants, in addition to some substitutional positioning.

The ion tracks of second step 104 may be viewed as a ballistic pathway for introduction of larger substitutional dopant atoms (see third step 106 below). Second step 104 may also eliminate the repulsive force (with respect to the substitutional dopant atoms (see step 106 below)) of the carbon dangling bonds in the diamond lattice by energetically favoring interstitial positioning of the acceptor dopant atoms, and altering the local formation energy dynamics of the diamond lattice.

The third step 106 of method 100 may include introducing the substitutional dopant atoms to the diamond lattice through the ion tracks. For example, third step 106 may include introducing the larger substitutional dopant atoms using ion implantation preferably at or below approximately 78 degrees K for energy implantation at less than 500 keV. Implanting below 78 degrees K may allow for the freezing of vacancies and interstitials in the diamond lattice, while maximizing substitutional implantation for the substitutional dopant atoms. The larger substitutional dopant may be for example, but is not limited to, phosphorous, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen.

For implantation where the desired ion energy is higher, as local self-annealing may occur, it may be beneficial to use ambient temperature in conjunction with MeV energy implantation. Where the desired ion energy is higher, there may be a higher probability of an incoming ion taking substitutional positioning.

The larger substitutional dopant atoms may be introduced at a much higher concentration than the acceptor dopant atoms. The higher concentration of the larger substitutional dopant atoms may be, but is not limited to, approximately 9.9×10¹⁷/cm³ of phosphorous and a range of 8×10¹⁷ to 2×10¹⁸/cm³.

In third step 106, the existence of the ballistic pathway and minimization of negative repulsive forces acting on the substitutional dopant atoms facilitates the entry of the substitutional dopant atoms into the diamond lattice with minimal additional lattice distortion. Ion implantation of the substitutional dopant atoms at or below approximately 78 degrees K provides better impurity positioning, favoring substitutional positioning over interstitial positioning, and also serves to minimize the diamond lattice distortions because fewer vacancies are created per impinging ion.

In one embodiment, ion implantation of step 106 may be performed at 140 keV, at a 6 degree offset to minimize channeling. Implant beam energy may be such that dosages overlap in an active implant area approximately 25 nm below the surface so that graphitic lattice relaxation is energetically unfavorable. Doping may be performed on a Varian Ion Implantation System with a phosphorus mass 31 singly ionized dopant (i.e., 31P+); a beam current of 0.8 μA; a beam energy of 140 keV; a beam dose 9.4×10¹¹/cm²; an incident angle of 6 degrees; and at a temperature of at or below approximately 78 degrees K.

The fourth step 108 of method 100 may include subjecting the diamond lattice to rapid thermal annealing. The rapid thermal annealing may be done at 1000 degree celsius C. Rapid thermal annealing may restore portions of the diamond lattice that may have been damaged during the second step 104 and the third step 106 and may electrically activate the remaining dopant atoms that may not already be substitutionaly positioned. Higher temperatures at shorter time durations may be more beneficial than low temperature, longer duration anneals, as the damage recovery mechanism may shift during long anneal times at temperatures in excess of 600 C.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a model of a doped diamond thin film wafer 300, such as may be fabricated by subjecting the intrinsic diamond thin film wafer 200 to method 100. The doped diamond thin film wafer 300 may include a doped diamond layer 302, the silicon dioxide layer (SiO₂) 204, and the silicon wafer layer 206.

FIG. 3B is a model of a doped diamond lattice structure 304, such as may be the result of subjecting the diamond layer 202 to method 100. The doped diamond lattice structure 304 may include a plurality of carbon atoms 314, a plurality of phosphorus atoms 306, and a plurality of vacancies 308, and a boron atom 312.

The method 100 allows for the fabrication of a semiconductor system including a diamond material, such as, but not limited to, the doped diamond thin film wafer 300, having n-type donor atoms, such as, but not limited to, the plurality of phosphorus atoms 306, and a diamond lattice, such as, but not limited to, the doped diamond lattice structure 304, wherein, for example by way of shallow ionization energy, approximately 0.25 eV, 0.16% of the donor atoms contribute conduction electrons with mobility greater than 770 cm2/Vs to the diamond lattice at 100 kPa and 300K.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of the method 400 for fabricating layers within diamond material. The first step of method 400 may be the same as the first step 102 of method 100, which includes selecting a diamond material having a diamond lattice structure.

The second step 402 of method 400 may include cleaning the diamond material to remove surface contaminants. For example, first step 402 may include cleaning the intrinsic diamond thin film wafer 200 (see FIG. 2). The cleaning may be a strong clean, for example but not limited to, a standard diffusion clean, known to those having skill in the art. One example, of such a diffusion clean includes: applying a 4:1 solution of H₂SO₄/H₂O₂ for 10 minutes; applying a solution of H₂O₂ for 2.5 minutes; applying a 5:1:1 solution of H₂O/H₂O₂/HCL for 10 minutes; applying a solution of H₂O₂ for 2.5 minutes; and heat spin drying for 5 minutes.

The third step 404 of method 400 may include subjecting the diamond material to a pre-ion track mask deposition over a first portion of the diamond lattice. The pre-ion track mask may protect a first portion of the diamond material during ion implantation. The pre-ion track mask deposition may be an aluminum pre-implant mask deposition. The pre-ion track mask deposition may be performed using a Gryphon Metal Sputter System using aluminum of 99.99999% (6N) purity, with a deposition time of 21-24 seconds, at a power of 7.5 kW, a pressure: 2.5×10⁻³ Torr; and to a thickness of 30 nm.

The fourth step of method 400 may be the same as the second step 104 of method 100, which includes introducing a minimal amount of acceptor dopant atoms to the diamond lattice to create ion tracks.

The fifth step of method 400 may be the same as the third step 106 of method 100, which includes introducing the substitutional dopant atoms to the diamond lattice through the ion tracks.

The sixth step 406 of method 400 may include mask etching, cleaning, and annealing the diamond lattice. The mask etching may be an aluminum mask etch. The mask etching may be a wet etch using aluminum etchant, for example, a Cyantek AL-11 Aluminum etchant mixture or an etchant having a composition of 72% phosphoric acid; 3% acetic acid; 3% nitric acid; 12% water; and 10% surfactant, at a rate of 1 μm per minute. After the aluminum is removed visually, which may take approximately 30 seconds, the wafers may be run under de-ionized water for sixty seconds and dried via pressurized air gun.

In other embodiments, the mask etching of the sixth step 406 may be a blanket etch using reactive ion etching (Ar(35 SCCM)/O₂ (10 SCCM), at VBIAS 576 V, 250 W Power, under pressure of 50 mTorr, for a total etch thickness of 25 nm. The Ar/O etch may have a dual function of both etching and polishing/terminating the diamond material surface. In addition to initial etching, the same process recipe is later implemented to form device architecture, and define different active and inactive areas of the diamond, as per required by end application use (i.e., MOSFET, diode, LED, etc.). Etch masking layer, for example a 200 nm thick aluminum deposition, may be formed via standard E-beam evaporation. Etching may be performed on an Oxford System 100 Plasmalab Equipment (Oxford Deep Reactive Ion Etcher). The etching conditions may be: RIE Power: 200 W; ICP power: 2000 W; Pressure: 9 mTorr; O2 flow: 50 sccm; Ar flow: 1 sccm. The etching rates may be 155 nm/min for the diamond layer and 34 nm/min for the aluminum masking layer.

The cleaning of sixth step 406 may be similar to diffusion clean described in the second step 402. The annealing of sixth step 406 may be a rapid thermal annealing to approximately 1000-1150 degrees Celsius under flowing N2 for approximately 5 minutes and/or the rapid thermal annealing may be performed with an Agilent RTA model AG4108 operating under the settings shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Command Time(s)/Intensity (%) Temperature Gas Flow Delay 20a N/A 10 SLPM N2  Delay  5 s N/A 7 SLPM N2 Inin 8%  25 C. 4 SLPM N2 Ramp 10 s 650 C. 4 SLPM N2 Steady 15 s 650 C. 4 SLPM N2 Ramp 10 s 900 C. 4 SLPM N2 Steady 55 s 950 C. 4 SLPM N2 Ramp 30 s 650 C. 7 SLPM N2 Delay 15 s N/A 7 SLPM N2

The sixth step 406 of method 400 may include subjecting the diamond material to a pre-substitutional mask deposition over a portion of the diamond lattice. The pre-substitutional mask deposition may be an aluminum pre-implant mask deposition. The pre-substitutional mask deposition may be performed using a Gryphon Metal Sputter System using aluminum of 99.99999% (6N) purity, with a deposition time of 21-24 seconds, at a power of 7.5 kW, a pressure: 2.5×10⁻³ Torr; and to a thickness of 30 nm.

For some applications, it may be beneficial to differentially dope different parts of the same diamond wafer, for example, to create p-type and n-type regions. In embodiments, various semiconductor devices are created including P-N junctions and P-i-N junctions.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show a block diagram of a third embodiment of the method 500 for fabricating layers within diamond material. Method 500 provides a process for fabricating n-type layers within diamond semiconductors for a P⁺i-N diode. The first step of method 500 may be the same as the first step 102 of method 100, which includes selecting a diamond material having a diamond lattice structure.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of an exemplary model of a P⁺i-N diode 600 that may be fabricated according to method 500. P⁺i-N diode 600 may include a lightly doped semiconductor region (i) (for example, see FIG. 8, 804), between a p⁺-type semiconductor region 608, and an n-type semiconductor region 606. The method of 500 with SRIM, Stopping Range In Motion, modeling provides a path for fabricating P⁺i-N diodes that approach theoretical projections. In one embodiment, the P⁺i-N diode 600 may include the lightly doped semiconductor region (i) 804 of a depth of approximately 10 nm, between a p-type semiconductor (for example, see FIG. 8, 806) of a depth of approximately 150 nm, the p⁺-type semiconductor region 608 of a depth of approximately 100 nm, and the n-type semiconductor region 606 of a depth of approximately 100 nm. FIG. 6 also shows a metallic contact/bonding pad 604 for connecting to the p⁺-type semiconductor region 608.

The second step of method 500 may be the same as the second step 402 of method 400, including cleaning the diamond material to remove surface contaminants.

The third step 502 of method 500 may include subjecting the diamond material to a pre-P⁺ mask deposition over a non-P⁺ portion of the diamond lattice. The pre-P⁺ mask deposition mask may protect a non-P^(°) portion of the diamond material during P⁺ ion implantation. The pre-P⁺ mask deposition may be an aluminum pre-implant mask deposition. The pre-ion track mask deposition may be performed using a Gryphon Metal Sputter System using aluminum of 99.99999% (6N) purity, with a deposition time of 21-24 seconds, at a power of 7.5 kW, a pressure: 2.5×10⁻³ Ton; and to a thickness of 30 nm.

The fourth step 504 of method 500 may include a P+layer implant of the diamond material. The P+ layer implant may be performed with a dopant of 11 B+, at a beam current of 0.04 μA, at a beam energy of 55 keV, with a beam dose of 1×10²⁰ atoms/cm², at an incident angle of 6 degrees, and at or below approximately 78 degrees K, to create a P+ layer of 100 nm.

The fifth step of method 500 may be the same as the sixth step 406 of method 400, including mask etching, cleaning, and annealing the diamond material.

The sixth step 506 of method 500 may include subjecting the diamond material to a pre-P mask deposition over a non-P portion of the diamond lattice. The pre-P mask deposition mask may protect a non-P portion of the diamond material during P ion implantation. The pre-P mask deposition may be an aluminum pre-implant mask deposition. The pre-P mask deposition may be performed using a Gryphon Metal Sputter System using aluminum of 99.99999% (6N) purity, with a deposition time of 21-24 seconds, at a power of 7.5 kW, a pressure: 2.5×10⁻³ Ton; and to a thickness of 30 nm.

The seventh step 508 of method 500 may include a P layer implant of the diamond material. The P layer implant may be performed with a dopant of 11 B+, at a beam current of 0.04 _(R)A, at a beam energy of 55 keV, with a beam dose of 3×10¹⁷ atoms/cm², at an incident angle of 6 degrees, and at or below approximately 78 degrees K, to create a P layer of 150 nm.

The eighth step of method 500 may be the same as the sixth step 406 of method 400, including mask etching, cleaning, and annealing the diamond material.

The ninth step of method 500 may be the same as the second step 404 of method 400, including subjecting the diamond material to a pre-ion track mask deposition over a first portion of the diamond lattice.

The tenth step of method 500 may be the same as the second step 104 of method 100, which includes introducing a minimal amount of acceptor dopant atoms to the diamond lattice to create ion tracks.

The eleventh step of method 500 may be the same as the third step 106 of method 100, which includes introducing a substitutional dopant atoms to the diamond lattice through the ion tracks.

The twelfth step of method 500 may be same as the sixth step 406 of method 400, including mask etching, cleaning, and annealing the diamond material.

The thirteenth step 510 of method 500 may include a blanket etch. The thirteenth step 510 may include a blanket etch in which the surface layer, approximately 25 nm, of the diamond layer 202 is etched off to remove any surface graphitization.

The fourteenth step 512 of method 500 may include a photolithography/mesa etch to obtain a diamond stack structure, such as that shown in FIG. 6. The fourteenth step 512 may include a diffusion clean and photolithography prior to the mesa etch.

The fifteenth step 514 of method 500 may include a creating a contact for the top of the stack. Contact to the top of the stack may be achieved by evaporating ITO with 5N purity to a thickness of 200 nm onto the stack through a shadow mask and then performing a liftoff.

The sixteenth step 516 of method 500 may include annealing. The annealing of step 516 may be oven annealing at 420 degrees C. in Ar ambient until ITO transparency is attained, which may be in approximately 2.5 hours.

The seventeenth step 518 of method 500 may include creating Ohmic contacts. The Ohmic contacts may include contacts to the P⁺ layer, for example, the metallic contact/bonding pad 604, and the n-layer. As wire bonding may be difficult with a small contact area, Ti and Au layers may be evaporated through a shadow mask using photolithography. Ti may also function as a diffusion barrier between ITO and Au layers. A contact layer thickness of 30 nm may be created for the P⁺ layer. A contact layer thickness of 200 nm may be created for the N-layer. In one embodiment, the diamond cap layer may be removed to expose the newly formed n-type layer to form an electrical contact for device use. The step may include polishing the diamond layer while etching, thus minimizing the surface roughness, and electrically terminating (oxygen) the surface of the diamond, a step in semiconductor device fabrication. In some embodiments, there is a further step of forming metal contacts on the diamond so that the diamond may function as a component part of an electronic device. The seventeenth step 518 of method 500 may include a metal furnace annealing. The metal furnace annealing may be performed at 420 degrees celsius for two hours.

The eighteenth step 520 of method 500 may include wafer surface termination.

The nineteenth step 522 of method 500 may include wafer surface dicing.

The twentieth step 524 of method 500 may include packaging. In the twentieth step 520, portions of the diamond material may be diced, mounted, wire bound and encapsulated in transparent silicone sealant to create 6-pin surface mount device packages.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a model of an exemplary six-pin surface mount device package 700 that may be fabricated according to the method of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

The methods disclosed herein may allow for the creation of a number of electrical diamond junctions to serve functions traditionally served by silicon semiconductors. While the application discusses examples in the context of a bipolar diode, those having skill in the art will recognize that the present techniques describe novel genuine n-type diamond material and novel p-type diamond material that may be used in multiple variations of electrical devices and monolithically formed combinations of the variations, including FETs and other switches, digital and analog, and light emitting bodies, and are not limited to the specific implementations shown herein. The various preferred embodiments need not necessarily be separate from each other and can be combined.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a P⁺-i-N diode test condition setup 802. A P⁺-i-N diode, such as a P⁺-i-N diode 600 fabricated according to method 500, may be tested according to the P⁺-i-N diode test condition setup 802.

FIG. 9 is a graphical illustration 900 of the threshold voltage performance characteristics 902 of a P⁺-i-N diode that may be fabricated according to method 500. The threshold voltage performance characteristics 902 may be obtained based upon DC conditions using suitable resistor biasing, and RF conditions using suitable TTL drivers or hybrid wire configuration, at room temperature, 76 degrees F. by IR measurement, under both low field and high field conditions. The threshold voltage performance characteristics 902 indicates a threshold voltage and current levels similar to those theoretically predicted for diamond.

FIG. 10 is a graphical illustration 1000 of the current-voltage characteristics of a P⁺-i-N diode, such as a P⁺-i-N diode 600 fabricated according to method 500, in forward bias, with the cathode negative, at room temperatures. A current-voltage curve 1002 shows the current-voltage characteristics for such a P⁺-i-N diode that may be fabricated according to method 500. The current-voltage curve 1002 indicates a large concentration of electrons are available for conduction at room temperatures. A low voltage depletion region 1004 of the current-voltage curve 1002 shows charge carriers are diffused from the N layer and the P layer into the intrinsic region, for example, charge carriers are diffused from the n-type semiconductor region 606 and the p⁺-type semiconductor region 608, into the lightly doped semiconductor region (i) 804. In the lightly doped semiconductor region (i) 804 the charge carriers may combine. Since recombination does not occur instantly, charge may be stored in the lightly doped semiconductor region (i) 804, thus lowering resistivity.

A high injection region 1006 of the current-voltage curve 1002 shows that as an applied potential is increased, charge carriers may flood into the intrinsic region, for example the lightly doped semiconductor region (i) 804, resulting in a concentration of carriers in excess of equilibrium concentrations. A series resistance region 1008 of the current-voltage curve 1002 is also shown.

FIG. 11 is a graphical illustration 1100 of the current density characteristics of a P⁺-i-N diode, such as a P⁺i-N diode 600 fabricated according to method 500, in forward bias, with the cathode negative, at room temperatures. A current density curve 1102 shows the current density characteristics for such a P⁺-i-N diode that may be fabricated according to method 500. The current density curve 1102 shows a concentration of charge carrier types at current densities of greater than 1600 Amperes/cm² at 5 V.

FIG. 12 is a graphical illustration 1200 of the current-voltage characteristics of a P⁺-i-N diode, such as a P⁺i-N diode 600 fabricated according to method 500, in reverse bias, with the cathode positive, at room temperatures. A current-voltage curve 1202 shows the current-voltage characteristics for such a P⁺i-N diode that may be fabricated according to method 500. The current-voltage curve 1202 shows that a small amount of reverse voltage may be required before the depletion region width becomes fully depleted of charge carriers and carrier diffusion ceases, as indicated by the small rise and rapid decrease in current levels.

FIG. 13 is a graphical illustration 1300 of the current density characteristics of a P⁺-i-N diode, such as a P⁺-i-N diode 600 fabricated according to method 500, in reverse bias, with the cathode positive, at room temperatures. A current density curve 1302 shows the current density characteristics for such a P^(′)-i-N diode that may be fabricated according to method 500. The current density curve 1302 indicates that a P⁺i-N diode, such as a P⁺i-N diode 600, is suited for signal attenuation, such as but not limited, to RF signal attenuation, as modulation is controllable.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic illustration of an RF attenuator driver chip configuration 1400, for use with a P⁺i-N diode, such as a P⁺-i-N diode 600 fabricated according to method 500. RF attenuator 1400 may provide attenuation characteristics with R_(load) varying from approximately 10 KΩ to 1 mΩ, current controlled characteristic, at 77 KHz.

FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a method 1500 for etching diamond material. Impurities in the diamond layer 202 may effect the uniformity, rate of the etching, and chemical reactivity. Inductive coupled plasma RIE (ICP-RIE) may allow for polished diamond surfaces with lithographic patterning required for semiconductor devices and electronic isolation of exposed etched areas. ICP-RIE may result in reduced process time and reduce the complexity of the semiconductor process line.

The first step of method 1500 may be the same as the first step 102 of method 100, which includes selecting a diamond material having a diamond lattice structure. The second step of method 1500 may be the same as the second step 402 of method 400, which includes cleaning the diamond material to remove surface contaminants.

The third step 1502 of method 1500 may include mask deposition. The mask deposition may include the application of a patterned or uniformly deposed mask comprised of photoresist or metallic elements such as, but not limited to, aluminum. Aluminum may provide desirous properties as etch activity of the diamond material may be equal or better than 5.8 times the aluminum layer.

The fourth step 1504 of method 1500 may include mask etching. Etching may be performed on a number of systems, such as but not limited to Oxford systems. Etching may be performed using an Oxford System 100 Plasmalab Equipment (Oxford Deep Reactive Ion Etcher). The etching conditions may be: RIE Power: 200 W; ICP power: 2000 W; Pressure: 9 mTorr; O2 flow: 50 sccm; Ar flow: 1 sccm. The etching rates may be 620 nm/min.

In other embodiments, for example embodiments that may be used for removing diamond surface graphitization, such as carbon dangling bonds, etching conditions may be: RIE Power: 150 W and ICP power: 250 W, for etching rates of approximately 60 nm/min. The duration of the etch may be confirmed by visual characterization of surface features through optical micrograph. In some embodiments, the etching duration for nanocrystalline and microcrystalline film may be 20 seconds.

FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a method 1600 for forming Ohmic contacts to diamond material. The first step of method 1600 may be the same as the first step 102 of method 100, which includes selecting a diamond material having a diamond lattice structure. In some embodiments, the diamond material may be formed upon a metal substrate, such as, but not limited to, tungsten. In some embodiments, the diamond material of step 102 may include a diamond band gap. The second step of method 1600 may be the same as the second step 402 of method 400, which includes cleaning the diamond material to remove surface contaminants.

The third step 1602 of method 1600 may include terminating the diamond surface.

Terminating the diamond surface may include electrically isolating the diamond surface though methods such as, but not limited to, hydrogen termination and oxygen termination, in order to pin the surface states.

The fourth step 1604 of method 1600 may include creating a pattern on the diamond surface. Creating a pattern on the diamond surface may include lithography techniques such as but not limited to photoresist and other masking techniques.

The fifth step 1606 of method 1600 may include performing evaporation techniques. Evaporation techniques may include forming circuit element configurations by evaporating contact metals upon the diamond surface.

The contact metal selected may be based upon the relative band gap positioning or work function requirements. The metal may be selected to maximize the operation of the desired device based upon a comparison of the relative Fermi positioning of the metal ahead of contact with the diamond surface, and the band structure of the proposed contact, such as for Ohmic or Schottky contact. In some embodiments, the metal may be comprised of gold, silver, aluminum, palladium, copper, tungsten, titanium, and polysilicon. In some embodiments, the metal may a transparent metal, such as but not limited to, indium-tin-oxide and fluorine-tin-oxide. In the case of transparent metals alloyed with single metal gold, a titanium layer may be deposited before the gold layer, where titanium may act as a diffusion barrier.

In some embodiments, such as those in requiring greater bond strength, such as wire bonding, performing evaporation techniques may include applying a metal carbide interfacial metal between the diamond surface and other contact metal, such as but not limited to, titanium, silicon, and tin.

The sixth step 1608 of method 1600 may include performing liftoff techniques. Liftoff techniques may include stripping the diamond surface of the masking material.

The seventh step 1610 of method 1600 may include annealing. The annealing of step 1610 may be oven annealing at 350 degrees C. for greater than 45 minutes per 300 nm thickness under flowing nitrogen gas.

FIG. 17 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a method 1700 for forming Schottky type contacts to diamond material. The first step of method 1700 may be the same as the first step 102 of method 100, which includes selecting a diamond material having a diamond lattice structure. The second step of method 1700 may be the same as the second step 402 of method 400, which includes cleaning the diamond material to remove surface contaminants. The third step of method 1700 may be the same as the third step 1602 of method 1600, which includes terminating the diamond surface.

The fourth step 1702 of method 1700 may include masking the diamond surface. Masking the diamond surface may include placing a shadow mask upon the diamond surface. In some embodiments, mask the diamond surface may be accomplished in the same manner as the fourth step 1604 of method 1600.

The fifth step 1704 of method 1700 may include a vapor deposition of metal upon the diamond surface. The fifth step may be performed using a sputtering tool known to those having skill in the art.

Additional embodiments of methods for forming contacts to diamond surfaces may include degeneratively doping the diamond material where the band gap is minimized prior to application of the metal contact. Such alternative embodiments may provide for improved heat transfer and electron transfer characteristics. Further embodiments may include providing a dielectric material interface layer to restrict current flow.

The systems and fabrication methods described herein provide a number of new and useful technologies, including novel n-type and novel p-type diamond semiconducting materials and devices, and methods for fabricating novel n-type and novel p-type diamond semiconducting materials and devices.

The novel fabrication methods include, but are not limited to, those for creating, etching, and metalizing (Schottky and Ohmic) genuine quality n-type diamond material; creating Integrated Circuits (ICs) and device drivers from diamond based power elements.

The novel devices include, but are not limited to, n-type diamond semiconductors that are at least partially activated at room temperature—i.e., the device material has sufficient carrier concentration to activate and participate in conduction; n-type diamond with high electron mobility; n-type diamond which has both high carrier mobility and high carrier concentration—without requiring a high temperature (above room temperature) or the presence of a high electrical field; an n-type diamond semiconductor with an estimated electron mobility in excess of 1,000 cm²/Vs and a carrier concentration of approximately 1×10¹⁶ electrons/cm3 at room/ambient temperature; a bipolar diamond semiconductor device; devices with p-type and n-type regions on a single diamond wafer; diamond diode devices; bipolar diamond semiconductor devices carrying high current without necessitating either a high temperature or the presence a strong electrical field; bipolar diamond semiconductor devices which can carry a one milliamp current while at room temperature and in the presence of a 0.28V electrical field; an n-type diamond material on polycrystalline diamond; a low cost thin film polycrystalline diamond-on-silicon carrier; diamond semiconductors on other carrier types (e.g., Fused Silica, Quartz, Sapphire, Silicon Oxide or other Oxides, etc.); a diamond power RF attenuator, a polycrystalline diamond power RF attenuator chip, a polycrystalline diamond power RF attenuator device; a diamond light emitting diode or/laser diode (LED); monolithically integrate diamond based logic drivers with high power elements (e.g., LED) on the same chip; n-type diamond material which is stable in the presence of oxygen (i.e., if a non-negligible amount of oxygen is present on the surface (such as when the wafer is on open air) the n-type semiconductor's conductivity and performance continue).

In some embodiments, this n-type and novel p-type diamond semiconducting material is constructed using polycrystalline diamond having less than a micrometer size grain and with doped thin film layers having sizes on the order of less than 900 nm. The techniques for forming said diamond material may be used on diamond films with diamond grain boundaries that are nearly atomic abrupt, such that uniformity of electrical performance may be maintained, while enabling the ability to form thin-film features from said material.

Another aspect of the invention is the ability to create metal contacts attached to the diamond semiconducting material, including the n-type material. Said metal contacts attach to the diamond material and continue to have good/ohmic conductivity (e.g., displaying high linearity). Metal contacts may refer to either or both metals (e.g., Au, Ag, Al, Ti, Pd, Pt, etc.) or transparent metals (e.g., indium tin oxide, fluoride tin oxide, etc.), as warranted by desired application use.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or variant described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or variants. All of the embodiments and variants described in this description are exemplary embodiments and variants provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and not necessarily to limit the scope of legal protection afforded the appended claims.

The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use that which is defined by the appended claims. The following claims are not intended to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other embodiments and modifications will readily occur to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of these teachings. Therefore, the following claims are intended to cover all such embodiments and modifications when viewed in conjunction with the above specification and accompanying drawings. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of fabricating diamond semiconductor, the method including the steps of: selecting a diamond semiconductor material having a surface; exposing the surface to a source gas in an etching chamber; forming a carbide interface contact layer on the surface; and forming a metal layer on the interface contact layer.
 2. A diamond semiconductor formed according to the method of claim 2, wherein the diamond semiconductor material has n-type donor atoms and a diamond lattice, wherein at least 0.16% of the donor atoms contribute conduction electrons with mobility greater than 770 cm²/Vs to the diamond lattice at 100 kPa and 300K.
 3. A method of fabricating diamond semiconductor, the method including the steps of: selecting a diamond semiconductor material having a surface; and exposing the surface to a source gas in an etching chamber; wherein the etching chamber is operated with an applied power within a range of 100 to 2000 watts and an external bias of greater than 50 volts.
 4. The method of fabricating diamond semiconductors of claim 3, wherein the etching chambers creates a source plasma, and the source plasma is an oxygen plasma.
 5. The method of fabricating diamond semiconductors of claim 3, wherein the source gas is primarily argon.
 6. The method of fabricating diamond semiconductors of claim 3, wherein the source gas is primarily a mixture of argon and oxygen.
 7. A diamond semiconductor formed according to the method of claim
 3. 8. A diamond semiconductor formed according to the method of claim 3, wherein the diamond semiconductor material has n-type donor atoms and a diamond lattice, wherein at least 0.16% of the donor atoms contribute conduction electrons with mobility greater than 770 cm²/Vs to the diamond lattice at 100 kPa and 300K.
 9. A method of fabricating contacts on diamond semiconductors, the method including the steps of: selecting a diamond semiconductor material having a surface; forming a carbide interface contact layer on the surface; and forming a metal layer on the interface contact layer.
 10. The method of fabricating contacts on diamond semiconductors of claim 9, wherein the metal layer is a degeneratively doped semiconductor layer.
 11. The method of fabricating contacts on diamond semiconductors of claim 9, wherein the metal layer is deposed via sputtering.
 12. The method of fabricating contacts on diamond semiconductors of claim 9, wherein the metal layer is deposed via vapor deposition.
 13. The method of fabricating contacts on diamond semiconductors of claim 9, wherein the metal layer is a transparent metal.
 14. The method of fabricating contacts on diamond semiconductors of claim 9, further including the step of deposing the diamond material on a metal substrate.
 15. The method of fabricating contacts on diamond semiconductors of claim 9, further including the step of annealing the diamond material.
 16. A diamond semiconductor formed according to the method of claim 9, wherein the diamond semiconductor material has n-type donor atoms and a diamond lattice, wherein at least 0.16% of the donor atoms contribute conduction electrons with mobility greater than 770 cm²/Vs to the diamond lattice at 100 kPa and 300K. 